cursive

[kur-siv]

adjective

1. (of handwriting) in flowing strokes with the letters joined together.

2. Printing.,  in flowing strokes resembling handwriting.

noun

1. a cursive letter or character.

2. Printing.,  a style of typeface simulating handwriting.

cursive

/ ˈkɜːsɪv /

adjective

1. of or relating to handwriting in which letters are formed and joined in a rapid flowing style

2. printing of or relating to typefaces that resemble handwriting

noun

1. a cursive letter or printing type

2. a manuscript written in cursive letters

Other Word Forms

• cursively adverb
• cursiveness noun
• noncursive adjective
• noncursively adverb
• transcursive adjective
• transcursively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cursive¹

1775–85; < Medieval Latin cursīvus flowing (said of penmanship), equivalent to Latin curs ( us ) (past participle of currere to run) + -īvus -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of cursive¹

C18: from Medieval Latin cursīvus running, ultimately from Latin currere to run

Example Sentences

Write 500 words, in cursive, on how any of this might apply to you.

From Los Angeles Times

Beneath those were strips of yellowing shoe patterns and a tracing of the actor’s foot with a note written in loopy cursive:

From Los Angeles Times

Her left leg is a canvas of tributes: Dior, her 3-year-old son, is inked behind her knee in flowing cursive.

From Los Angeles Times

It tasted like something you might find in a glass bottle at a café where the music is low, the lighting flattering, and the smoothie menu handwritten in cursive.

From Salon

Johnson wasn’t sure which signature that was, but he knew it would have looked different: After printing his name for years, he perfected his cursive signature only a few months ago.

From Los Angeles Times

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